Remaining silent due to fear of social, political and economic reprisals is a tragedy for the world and the human race. Tibet will not be silent. Tibetans will fight for our righteous aim and struggle for the restoration of independence for Tibet.
Fighting occupation, injustice, discrimination, exploitation, oppression, colonization, genocide, ethnic cleansing, environmental destruction, cultural invasion, massive population transfer of Chinese into Tibet...

Saturday, October 13, 2007

What you need to know about China's Communist Party Congress

The 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress gets underway on Monday, October 15. The congress, which occurs every five years, is China's most important and most public political event. This year's congress takes on additional significance, considering China's economic and military growth in recent years. Here's what you need to know:

* Delegates to the congress endorse policies that will guide China over the next five years. Senior party officials are also promoted or demoted at the congress. * The nine-member Standing Committee of the Politburo—the strongest political body in China—will be reshuffled. Chinese President Hu Jintao's successor will likely emerge from this group. * Most policies that will be endorsed at the congress have been decided well in advance, so expect no public disagreements. * Hu has stated that the goals of the congress are to "promote social harmony" and create policies to spread wealth and build a "well-off society," as well as to spur "scientific development." * About 2,200 delegates are attending. They are mainly senior party figures, but 30 percent come from outside of the Chinese political establishment. * The congress takes place in Tiananmen Square's Great Hall of the People, although some events will occur at other venues.

What will the end result be? There's been plenty of speculation, but no one will really know who's moving up in the party and what plans Hu has until the end of the congress. Hu may consolidate his position of power at the expense of supporters of former President Jiang Zemin. But don't expect any dramatic changes after the congress. Because all decisions are negotiated beforehand in order to present a unified front, a few personnel changes won't make that much of an impact on China's overall strategic direction. Still, it will be interesting to see what plans Hu has for China over the next five years, and who emerges as the frontrunner to replace him.

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Map of Tibet

Tibetan National Flag

Freedom is not Free

“Whether the Chinese government admits it or not, there is a problem. The problem is a nation with ancient cultural heritage is actually facing serious dangers,” he said. “Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place.” By His Holiness The Dalai Lama

If man will only realize that it is unmanly to obey laws that are unjust, no man's tyranny will enslave him. This is the key to self-rule or home-rule. By Mahatma Gandhi

It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our breasts than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. Violence is any day preferable to impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent. By Mahatma Gandhi

Far better than cowardice would be meeting one's death fighting. By Mahatma Gandhi

"Negroes are human, not superhuman. Like all people, they have differing personalities, diverse financial interests and varied aspirations. There are Negroes who will never fight for freedom. There are Negroes who will seek profit for themselves alone from the struggle. There are even some Negores, who will cooperate with the oppressors. These facts should distress no one. Every minority and every people has its share of opportunists, profiteers, freeloaders and escapists. The hammer blows of discrimination, poverty and segregation must warp and corrupt some. No on can pretend that because a people may be oppressed, every individual member is virtuous and worthy. The real issue is whether in the great mass the dominant characteristics are decency, honor and courage." By Dr. Martin Luther King

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

An Innocent man should not have to suffer in prison for the rest of his life.

Amber Alert for Gendun Chokyi Nyima

Held incommunicado by Chinese government since the age of 6. China where is the Panchen Lama?